end of deployment

This was the last weekend that we had a Yellow Ribbon program as a family in Helena for Jason's post-deployment. We went up Friday night, and made it just in time for the kids to go to bed.

Saturday was filled (for Jason and I) with power point presentations, and way too much listening. It was possibly the longest, most boring, and information overloaded day ever. I still have a headache from the crappy lighting, and lack of fresh air. As soon as we were able, we got the kids, and left to have dinner. Elliott decided to make it almost impossible to be in public with him, so we hurried and finished and went back to the room to put him to bed. Ethan and I went to the pool, and Jason put Elliott down. An hour later, Ethan and I went back to the room, and found Elliott and Jason both sound asleep. It really was a very long day, and we were all out by 9:30. Lame, I know, but it felt good to be refreshed this morning.

Today was so much better. After breakfast, we went to the "Freedom Salute Ceremony". We got to all sit together, and all the soldiers received awards, and the families were also thanked for their support. Elliott had a hard time sitting still for 2 hours, but did well considering. Jason and I took turns keeping track of him.

A Daddy is never off duty.

This is Jason getting his awards from General Walsh.

He's proud of all of it. I even got a ribbon and a pin.  :)

And this is Jason's most prized possession. I thought he would have to give his life to receive a folded up flag, I'm so happy to have him and a flag.

It was nice to see our "military family" this weekend. We have become pretty close knit, and I am definitely going to miss seeing some of them. If I could, I would give an appreciation pin to all my friends, old and new, for getting us through this deployment. I probably could have done it alone, but I am so thankful I didn't have to. I feel like this was the official end to the deployment, and I feel a weight has been lifted off our family.

Have a great week.

a jewelry update

The past 2 days, the weather has been cold, rainy and super windy. Welcome to Spring in Montana. Since Elliott and I have been staying home, and staying in, I have been working a lot on my jewelry.

I have set up a jewelry blog, here. I also am being featured on blog for the Busy Moms of Etsy Team tomorrow! I am having a giveaway, so make sure you check it out!

Here are some of my newest pieces, in no particular order.

We will be in Helena all weekend, and I'm hoping I will actually remember to take a few pictures. Not that we will be doing anything worth taking a picture of, but at least I will have something to go with the post about it. :)

Have an awesome weekend!

WARNING! EXTREME "ICK" FACTOR

Elliott and I walked to school to get Ethan, then on our way home, we went across the street to play at the park. It was the perfect day for it! I even invited Erica and Carson. The kids had a great time playing, running, climbing and sliding. Jason called on his way home, and said he would bring cold drinks for everyone, so we waited for him.

Right before he got there, Ethan came running to me, crying and holding the back of his head. When I turned him around, blood was EVERYWHERE! Blood doesn't freak me out, I just go into "mom mode" and took off toward the house, almost forgetting Elliott, but Erica was awesome as always and said she had him. A lady, who was with a daycare at the park, had gauze, so she gave us that, and Ethan held it on his head while we walked to the house. Head wounds DO freak me out, and Ethan seems to be prone to them.

This is only a fraction of the blood that was on him. His hands were covered, the gauze was soaked, and it was all over his shirt.

After getting into the house, I got the bleeding stopped and I tried to wipe it off, with no luck, so I stuck him in the bath and poured water over it. It didn't look too bad, but he was really upset, and it was hurting really bad, so I called the Dr and they said to go to the ER. Ethan did not want to go. It actually upset him more.

Jason convinced him he would be ok, and got him in the car. Elliott and Jason stayed home, and I took Ethan to the ER. Ethan wouldn't even talk to me. He was MAD!

After a root beer popsicle, a staple in the back of his head, and Wendy's for dinner, he was right back to himself. :) Jason took him to go get DQ for a treat. I think he's going to live, but I could do without another one of these, at least for the summer. *fingers crossed*

The best part of the story, is the part I wasn't even there for. Erica said after we left, all the kids could talk about was what I said to Ethan. Not the fact that he got hurt, or there was blood everywhere, nope. They were shocked that I had told Ethan to "Shut-Up" when I was trying to see what had happened. Yep, that's me, Mother of the Year!

growing our own

I don't have a green thumb. No really, I don't. It's totally by choice. I'm sure I could grow things if I wanted to. I don't know what got into me this year, but I decided to put the little garden area in our front yard to use. At first I wanted to do flowers, but then it annoyed me because they are a lot of work, and useless. Pretty, yes, but useless. So today when we finally went to the store, I decided to do a few veggies instead. I still don't like "gardening". I don't like dirt under my nails, I don't like digging up weeds, or even taking the time to water, but I am determined to make this work. I remember being little, and even then I hated helping my grandma weed and plant and water the garden, but I loved picking the veggies. Loved it! I wasn't a big fan of eating them, but give me a break, I was little. Ethan and Elliott both eat their veggies, thankfully. I can't wait for things to start growing, Ethan will be so excited.

Since we are in Montana, it's still a little chilly. We are starting our plants inside and today, we planted the seeds.

Ethan is too much like me. He was NOT impressed with his dirty fingers.

He couldn't wait to wash his hands.

Here are a few. I don't know why I thought one package of seeds would only be 5 or 6 seeds. I was so wrong. We have 40 cups planted, and still have carrotts to go. Right now we have cucumbers, zucchini, and green beans. I am getting excited just writing this.

Good thing I have friends because I'm positive we will have WAY too much stuff.

they are who they are.

An 18 month check up for Elliott is how I started my day. Normally this is not a challenge, but as he has gotten older, the less he likes being around people he doesn't know. He screamed when we were with the nurse, then he was fine until the Dr came in. The Dr was not our normal pediatrician, but I loved that he saw Elliott was uncomfortable, and did the exam right on my lap. Don't get me wrong. I am totally "tough love mom". I think that sitting on the table and learning that it will be okay, is good for them. If the Dr would have preferred it that way, I would have had him on the table.

After we got home, Elliott and I played for a while, and cleaned house, but then he was losing his mind, and I knew it was nap time, even though it really wasn't. He went right down, and took his normal 2 1/2 hour nap, woke up, ate lunch, and then we went to get Ethan.

The boys had a photo shoot with Jaymee today (man I am lucky), so I got them ready to go, and off we went.

During the shoot, they were ridiculous. Elliott was swinging the hockey stick around, banging on the building, and Ethan WOULD NOT stop sticking his tongue through the gap in his teeth. They were driving me nuts! Jaymee brought Raigan, and I tried to keep her wrangled while Jaymee was shooting away. When the boys were done, Jaymee wanted to get a few pictures of Raigan in her super duper cute dress. Well, Raigan was less than cooperative, and me, being the awesome Aunt Mer that I am, showed her how to throw rocks into the puddles. Ooooops. It was over after that. She was totally into it. By the time we were getting ready to be done, Raigan was prancing around in her adorable pink shoes and cute dress, right in the puddle of water. Jaymee and I couldn't do anything but watch. So we did, and Jaymee took pictures. It was at this point we looked at each other and said "whatever." It was the perfect reminder that kids are who they are. Even if you dress them up, and put them in cute shoes.

So when I was driving home, I reflected on my day. Thanks to Raigan for reminding me that Elliott is who he is, and Ethan is who he is. Even if they are brothers, and they are both WAY TOO CUTE, they are not the same kid.

Elliott is wild. He is always on the go, always into everything, and always pushing the limits.

Ethan is a go with the flow kid, he loves all sports, and is a sponge when it comes to learning.

I never thought I could love them both so much. I didn't know there was so much love to give. I love them both for who they are and what they bring to our family. They are special people and will be whatever they want to be.  

It's a good life

Jason has had the last two days off, and even has today off! It has been beautiful out, so we have been outside a lot. Yesterday, we played outside for a while after school, then after dinner we went rollerblading. It has obviously been a really long time since I have been on rollerblades, and I ended up taking mine off and walking back. My feet hurt so bad. Ugh. It was still so great to get out, be with my family and enjoy the awesome weather.

Just look at that sunshine, and this was about 6:30pm. I love spring.

Ethan is an incredible skater, and was always pulling away. I'm sure Jason got the best workout trying to keep up with him.

On the way back to the car, they left me and Elliott in the dust. We had a nice calm walk back, and they did come back and skate after a while.  :)

We will definitely doing this more often. Maybe my skates will get broken in, and I will be able to wear them without losing all feeling in my feet.

Happy Birthday Dominik! I can't believe my sweet little nephew is 7!

Isn't he handsome?

Today is also Earth Day. I am going to get some flowers, and plant them in the house for now, and try to get the flower bed in front of our house ready. This will be the first year I actually put flowers in it. I'm really excited, and I think Ethan will enjoy helping, and I'm sure Elliott will love getting dirty. I just hope my non-green thumbs don't kill everything.

Couldn't resist

I know it's not high quality, and really not that exciting, but it is super cute. Elliott loves to play "Patty Cake" and his actions for it are so stinkin' funny. I love how he "rolls it", and how he has to go fast. Enjoy.